The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight just climbed over Marineford’s white walls, a rapid knocking sound came from Gern’s room.
“Gern! Open up! I know you’re in there!?”
Libo’s voice came through the door, accompanied by a “thump-thump” knocking sound.
“If you don’t open the door, I’m just going to go right in! Even though Gion-neechan said I shouldn’t just enter your room…”
Before Libo could finish speaking, the sound of a heavy object falling to the floor came from inside the room, followed by Gern’s sleepy mumble.
“Libo… it’s not even light yet…”
“Liar! The sun’s already out!” Libo pushed the door open and practically pressed her face against Gern’s.
Her white rabbit ears stood up high with excitement. “You clearly promised yesterday that we’d depart for Fish-Man Island today!”
Looking at Libo’s small face, a sleepy-eyed Gern subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed it.
He then struggled to get out of bed, rubbed his eyes, and glanced at the clock on his bedside table: 07:30.
“Libo.” After seeing the time, Gern’s eyes, which had been narrowed to slits, opened.
He was now accustomed to the comfort of administrative leave.
“The mess hall isn’t even open at this time, let’s snooze a little longer…”
Before he could finish, Libo was scooped up into Gern’s arms and held against his chest. Her head swayed back and forth, and she mumbled, “It’s open, it’s open…”
Saying that, she broke free from Gern’s embrace, straightened up, and straddled Gern, pouting slightly.
She was wearing a brand new Marine uniform today, with a shiny fish-shaped badge pinned to her chest and a small backpack on her back, covered in carrot patterns.
“Gern, hurry and get up!”
“Look!” She proudly turned halfway around. “I specially prepared this Fish-Man Island carrot souvenir badge today (a self-made craft from the Marineford Commercial Street).
Tesoro also told me there are glowing corals and singing shells there!” After speaking, she pulled out a crumpled travel guide from her backpack. “I even did research!”
Gern looked at the guide, which had clearly been flipped through countless times, covered in circles and stars drawn in red pen, and sighed.
“At least let me wash my face, and my little Libo!
The people on Marineford Commercial Street have never even been to Fish-Man Island. All your things are…”
“I don’t care, hurry, hurry!” Libo was already spinning in circles in the room.
Gern was about to say something more, but Libo had already rushed out of the room like a whirlwind.
“See you at the port! Whoever is late has to treat to a month of carrot cake!”
…
When Gern, still feeling a bit tired, arrived at the port after changing his clothes, the sight before him instantly sobered him up.
Next to his battleship was a small supply ship, its deck piled with all sorts of strange equipment.
Diving gear, underwater cameras, and even several huge fish tanks.
“What is this?”
“Surprise!” Libo jumped out from behind a pile of equipment, her face smeared with oil.
“Tesoro helped with this! This way, we can film an underwater documentary!”
Tesoro stood to the side, his golden gloves gleaming in the sunlight: “Just some small modifications.
Stella said that the Fishman’s singing propagates particularly well underwater, so we prepared underwater recording equipment.”
Looking at these two confident individuals, Gern opened his mouth, suddenly realizing a problem:
“You guys aren’t going to just put a submarine down there because we’re going to Fish-Man Island, are you?”
“Isn’t that right? The guide said so!” Tesoro frowned, then took out the guide from Libo’s backpack.
“You two foolish guys!” Gern sighed deeply.
“The stuff from Marineford Commercial Street is completely unreliable, okay!
Moreover, hardly any Marines have been to Fish-Man Island, so if you want to buy such things, you have to go to Sabaody Archipelago!”
“Then… Libo’s Fish-Man Island carrot souvenir badge.” Libo’s expression fell.
“The sea carrots from Fish-Man Island don’t look like this.”
“They don’t look like that.” Libo’s expression instantly turned aggrieved, her eyes welling up with tears.
Seeing Libo like this, Gern chuckled helplessly, stepped forward, and ruffled her hair, “It’s okay, it’s not like we’re not going, I’ll buy you a real one then.”
“Mhm, mhm.”
“But before that, if I’m not mistaken, our ship… needs to be coated to go to Fish-Man Island, right?”
The scene suddenly fell silent.
Libo’s ears slowly drooped, and Tesoro’s expression froze.
“Coating?” Libo whispered, “You mean… that bubble-like thing?”
Gern held his forehead: “I completely forgot about that….” He turned to the Sergeant beside him, “Do we have a coating craftsman in our headquarters?”
The Sergeant usually responsible for Gern’s exclusive warship looked bewildered: “Reporting, Rear Admiral Gern, Marine warships generally don’t need coating, so…”
“Damn it.” Gern rubbed his temples, “Looks like I’ll have to go find Zephyr-sensei.”
…
On the Elite Training Camp’s training ground, morning training had just begun.
Zephyr stood with his back to the gate, scolding a few lazy recruits.
Even from a distance, his booming voice could be heard echoing across the training ground.
“Zephyr-sensei!” Gern stepped forward and saluted.
“Gern?” Zephyr turned around, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his sunglasses, his gaze sweeping over Libo and Tesoro behind Gern. “Bringing your little followers to train?”
“No, Sensei.” Gern cleared his throat. “I wanted to ask you, are there any coating craftsmen within the Marine?”
“Coating?” Zephyr’s voice suddenly rose by an octave, causing the surrounding recruits to turn their heads.
He grabbed Gern’s arm and pulled him to the shade of a nearby tree.
“You’re going to Fish-Man Island?” Zephyr’s voice was very low, but every word was as heavy as a hammer. “Now?”
“That’s right.” Gern nodded: “I’ve already received Fleet Admiral Kong’s approval.”
Zephyr’s expression became extremely serious.
He took off his sunglasses and stared at Gern with a scrutinizing gaze: “Do you know what time it is now?”
“The Seven Warlords of the Sea system.”
“That’s right, the World Government’s sudden announcement of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system is causing a huge uproar within the Marine. All the generals are taking sides and making their stances clear.”
He pointed to Smoker, who was training at the other end of the training ground. “Even these new recruits are discussing this matter now!
Kuzan and the other two have also expressed their attitudes, and now you want to leave headquarters to go play on Fish-Man Island?”
(In the eyes of most Marines, Fish-Man Island is a unique tourist attraction island for playing.)
Facing Zephyr’s words, Gern did not immediately reply.
In the distance, Libo was showing Tesoro the “adventure gear” in her backpack, and neither of them noticed the heavy atmosphere here.
“Zephyr-sensei.” Gern finally spoke. “Do you think I can change anything by staying here?”
Zephyr frowned: “What do you mean?”
“Sakazuki openly opposes it, Kuzan remains silent but his tone and attitude also show opposition.
As for Borsalino-senpai, there’s no need to even mention him; he jokes around and even subtly supports the World Government purely for promotion…”
Gern shrugged, “So, when has the World Government’s decision ever truly considered the Marine’s opinion?”
“So, among the four…” Zephyr clenched his fist.
“Only you choose to escape?”